Faith

What Makes Faith Strong

We all know the famous “faith” verse in Hebrews 11, that it is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  Some would even call this “blind faith.”  But, isn’t it all blind?  Faith is believing in something or someone that you can’t see or you don’t know.

As we see in the video, faith really is more in whom or in what you put your belief, rather than in how much you actually believe.

We all know that you can believe fervently in something that is not true.  Accordingly, that kind of belief will never make something false, true.

Examining Scripture

Let’s examine a few verses on faith and try to extract some truths about it that God desires us have.  The main goal is to understand how we can have a deeper and stronger faith.  (I am using the Amplified Bible for references in this post because I like how it gives us a deeper understanding of this topic.)

Title Deed

First of all, let’s consider the well-known verses in Hebrews 11:1-3.  Faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen.  [The conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].  For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.  By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Faith is a title deed to what you are trusting in.  You can hold a deed for what you think is a gold mine, but as many in the past found out, it was just fool’s gold.  With any belief you must also be certain in whom or in what you are putting your trust. Throughout Scripture we see how people chose to trust in the living God, even though they did not see Him.  They just believed what He said and acted on it, just like Abraham.

Healing Faith

Jesus said that people were healed when they demonstrated their belief with actions.

In Mark 5:25-34 a woman touched Jesus’ cloak and was healed.  After he felt the power go out of him, he told her that her faith healed her.  What was important was in whom she believed.  She could have believed just as much and thought by touching a pig she would be healed.  But we know that she would not have been healed, no matter how strongly she believed in the pig.  Equally, she didn’t believe in herself, but in the fact that Jesus could heal.  She knew HE could heal her, if she walked her belief out.

Similarly, Luke 5:20 again shows that belief put into action, heals.  The lame man’s friends did all they could to get him before Jesus.  If they hadn’t believed that Jesus could heal, they would not have gone to all the effort they did.

If you want to know how much faith you have, ask yourself the following question.  How much do I believe God can do?

What is Faith

The Amplified Bible explains the word as trusting in God and having confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness.  Believing in God means that you abide and trust in Him and His promises.  When we say that we believe in something, we are saying that we trust in it and rely on it.  Selah.  Take some time to meditate on those things.

Belief in Jesus

1 Corinthians 15:17-18 reveals the importance of substance behind one’s belief.  It says that if you believe that Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless and powerless [mere delusion].  Likewise, you are still in your sins [and under the control and penalty of sin].  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

We can believe in Jesus, but the truth is, if he wasn’t resurrected, there is no substance to that belief.   The Christian belief in Jesus hinges on the resurrection.  If he didn’t die and wasn’t resurrected, then we have no hope either to be resurrected.

Walk of Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7 talks about walking by faith, not by sight.  This means living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises.

We cannot say that we believe something and then not make decisions in accordance with that belief.  If we do, we really don’t believe what we say.  What we say, how we act, and what we do shows what we believe.

Receiving Spirit

We receive the spirit through believing that it will be given, not because we name it and claim it.  Galatians (3:14) says that Jesus is the blessing of Abraham so that the Gentiles might also receive the promise.  The spirit comes through faith, not anything we personally do.  We cannot demand it, but only accept and receive what is given.

Faith Defends

Ephesians 6:16 tells us to take up the shield of faith so we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  If you want to be able to stand against temptation and persecution, the bigger the shield the better!

Our shield is the belief we have in God.  How big is your shield?

Selflessness

2 Thessalonians 1:3 reveals an interesting truth.  We give thanks to God for you, because your faith is growing ever greater.  The [unselfish] love of each one of you toward one another is continually increasing.  As our belief and trust in God grows, our unselfish love toward the brethren grows as well!  Our focus becomes less on ourselves and our needs, and more outward focused.

Testing of Faith

James 1:3 reminds us that we will be tested.  Likewise, he assures us that the testing [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].  Just as using your muscles makes them stronger, so does exercising your faith.  As our belief is tested, we will have inner peace and become more spiritually mature.

Rich in Faith

James 2:5 points out that God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom.  Those who are poor have no other hope but to trust in God.  They cannot trust in worldly riches to help them.  That is probably why Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

He did not say that riches were evil.  But still, he made the point that many who have riches, trust them more than they trust God.  How many people trust themselves or their job to meet their needs?!

Faith vs Works

James 2:14-24 explains that there is no benefit if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence].  The question is asked:  Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.]

If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and lacks [enough] food for each day, and you says to them, “Go in peace [with my blessing], [keep] warm and feed yourselves,” but he does not give them the necessities for the body, what good does that do?   So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].  Wow!  That is powerful!  Again, our ACTIONS are a result of what we believe.

Without Doing Faith is Dead

Continuing on, someone may say, “You [claim to] have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without the works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].”  You believe that God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]!  But are you willing to recognize, you foolish [spiritually shallow] person, that faith without [good] works is useless?  

Was our father Abraham not [shown to be] justified by works [of obedience which expressed his faith] when he offered Isaac his son on the altar [as a sacrifice to God]?  You see that [his] faith was working together with his works, and as a result of the works, it was completed [reaching its maturity when he expressed it through obedience].  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and this [faith] was credited to him [by God] as righteousness and as conformity to His will,” and he was called the friend of God.  You see that a man (believer) is justified by works and not by faith alone [that is, by acts of obedience a born-again believer reveals his faith].

Working Together with God

1 Peter 1:3-9 shows us that faith is God’s power working together with our choice to believe.  We must trust in and hope in all that He is and all that He says.

Believers are born again into an ever-living hope.  They have a confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  We are [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading.  This inheritance is reserved in heaven for you, who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.

In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.  Through these trials, the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold is tested and purified by fire.  As a result, you will gain praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and though you do not even see him now, you believe and trust in him.  You greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, receiving as the result [the outcome, the consummation] of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Amazing Results

Amazing!  The ultimate result of having faith in God and that He raised Jesus from the dead, is salvation when Jesus returns.  I hope that you too will share in that victory over death in the future.  Equally important, that you will have the peace and strength to walk each in solid belief as to who God is and what He said.